A businessman nicknamed an employee "the stripper" and continuously swore and insulted female staff, a tribunal heard.

Bakery operative Maria Parkin claims she was forced to leave her job at George Bolam (Foods) Ltd on Sedgefield Industrial Estate because of how her boss treated her.

Mrs Parkin, 33, of Bishop Middleham, County Durham, is claiming constructive dismissal and sex discrimination while at the wholesale company from January 2001 to June last year.

Managing director George Bolam, and the company, deny all the allegations.

Mrs Parkin told the employment tribunal in Thornaby that Mr Bolam told another man that she was the "stripper from Bradford we saw last night" because she had the same accent and hair colour.

Since then he constantly referred to Mrs Parkin as "the stripper" or "Bradford", the tribunal was told.

"I always objected to Mr Bolam's derogatory and sexual discriminatory remarks towards me I found them offensive and insulting. I have suffered sexual harassment and bullying and nothing was done by the company to stop it."

Josie Davies who worked at the factory for seven weeks in 2001 said: "I found George Bolam's treatment towards women unacceptable and was offended by many of his remarks towards women. He would continuously swear and insult female members of staff to the point of making them cry."

Mr Bolam, a 59-year-old grandfather, admitted calling Mrs Parkin "Bradford" in a jovial manner because of her Yorkshire accent, saying there was always banter between them.

He said: "Maria was a joy to work with. She was happy and an exceptionally good worker.

"Towards the end unfortunately problems did arise with her. But at no time did she state to me she did not like being called Bradford."